JP5454354B2 - Control information conversion apparatus and control information conversion method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control information conversion apparatus and a control information conversion method for video / audio communication between terminals connected to different networks such as a circuit switching network and an IP network.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-125367 discloses an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Standardization Standard Standard) standard required by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) multimedia communication terminal standard 3G-324. H.263, ISO (International Organization of Standardization) / MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) -4, which is internationally standardized by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), and 3G-324 IT, which is essential for audio coding. T Recommendation G. An example of a multimedia communication terminal capable of performing multimedia communication according to 723.1 is introduced.

JP 2003-125367 A

  However, when terminals such as those described in the above publication are connected to different networks, the codecs installed in both terminals are different. Decoding) cannot be performed, and image and audio communication cannot be performed as it is.

  In the first place, in the above case, since there is no communication path for exchanging control information such as the codec installed in each terminal, it is not possible to exchange information about what codec the other terminal is equipped with, There was a problem in that communication was not possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a codec between terminals in video / audio communication between terminals connected to different networks such as a circuit switching network and an IP network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a conversion device for converting control information and a method for converting control information so that communication can be established even when they are different.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conversion device for converting control information or media information for image / audio communication between first and second terminals connected to different networks. This conversion device includes a conversion unit that converts call control information and decoding information accompanying control information or media information, and is input from a first terminal belonging to one network, and is converted into ITU-T recommendation H.264. Using the capability information included in the decoding information of the terminal according to the H.245 protocol, the decoding information is converted into SIP or SDP call control information for the second terminal and then output to the second terminal. In addition, the conversion apparatus uses the capability information included in the SIP or SDP call control information input from the second terminal, to convert the call control information to the H.264 for the first terminal. After being converted into terminal decryption information according to the H.245 protocol, it is output to the first terminal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, control information or media information is converted for image / voice communication using a conversion device installed between first and second terminals connected to different networks. A conversion method is provided. According to this method , the ITU-T recommendation H.264 input from the first terminal . Using the capability information included in the decoding information of the terminal according to the H.245 protocol, the decoding information is converted into SIP or SDP call control information for the second terminal and then output to the second terminal A direction conversion step is performed. Also, according to this method, the call control information is sent to the first terminal by using the capability information included in the SIP or SDP call control information input from the second terminal. A conversion process in the second direction for outputting to the first terminal is performed after conversion into terminal decoding information according to the H.245 protocol.

  According to the present invention, for example, in communication between terminals connected to different networks such as a mobile phone terminal and a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) terminal, communication is established even if the format of capability information differs between the terminals. It becomes possible.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion apparatus of the control information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion apparatus of the control information which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion apparatus of the control information which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion apparatus of the control information which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion apparatus of the control information which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control information conversion apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a conversion device 110 disposed between a first terminal 100 and a second terminal 150 is shown. In the following description, it is assumed that the first terminal 100 is connected via a circuit switching network and the second terminal 150 is connected to an IP network.

  The first terminal 100 inputs a moving image signal and is set in advance in a moving image encoding encoder (not shown) using, for example, a moving image compression encoding method such as ISO / IEC recommendation MPEG-4. This is a device that compresses and encodes a moving image signal in accordance with DCI (Decoder Configuration Information) and outputs the encoded bit stream to the conversion device 110.

  In addition, the first terminal 100 transmits decoding information (for example, the above-described DCI) indicating codec capability information regarding a stream that is installed in the own device and can be received from the other party to the conversion device 110.

  The second terminal 150 also transmits call control information indicating the capability information of the codec installed in the own terminal to the conversion device 110.

  The conversion device 110 is a gateway device that includes a first transmission / reception unit 120, a second transmission / reception unit 130, and a control information conversion unit 115.

  In the above configuration, when the first transmission / reception unit 120 receives the decoding information and the bitstream from the first terminal 100, the conversion device 110 inputs the decoding information to the control information conversion unit 115.

  The control information conversion unit 115 that has acquired the decryption information receives, for example, the ITU-T standard H.264 from the first terminal 100. Capability information (for example, the above-mentioned DCI) included in the decoding information received using the H.245 protocol is extracted and changed to, for example, the description of SDP (Session Description Protocol) defined in IETF RFC Recommendation RFC2327, and call control information To the second transmitter / receiver 130. Then, the second transmission / reception unit 130 transmits call control information to the second terminal 150.

  Next, the flow of signals from the second terminal 150 toward the first terminal 100 will be described. The conversion device 110 uses the second transmission / reception unit 130 to transmit call control information and bits from the second terminal 150. When the stream is received, the call control information is input to the control information conversion unit 115.

  The control information conversion unit 115 that has acquired the call control information extracts the second terminal capability information (for example, SDP information defined by IETF RFC) included in the call control information received from the second terminal 150, and The information is converted into decoding information (for example, the above-described DCI) that can be interpreted by the first terminal, and is output to the first transmitting / receiving unit 120. Then, the first transmission / reception unit 120 transmits the decoding information to the first terminal 100.

  As described above, in communication between different networks, even if the format of capability information between terminals differs between DCI and SDP, it is possible to establish communication through a conversion device that converts control information. It has become.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention that realizes capability negotiation between terminals will be described by omitting the same parts as those in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control information conversion apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a conversion device 210 disposed between the first terminal 100 and the second terminal 150 is shown. Hereinafter, also in this embodiment, the first terminal 100 is described as being connected by a circuit switching network and the second terminal 150 is connected to an IP network.

  The conversion device 210 is a gateway device or the like that includes the first transmission / reception unit 120, the second transmission / reception unit 130, and the control information conversion unit 215.

  In the above configuration, when the first transmission / reception unit 120 receives the decoding information and the bitstream from the first terminal 100, the conversion device 210 inputs the decoding information to the control information conversion unit 215.

  The control information conversion unit 215 takes out the capability information (for example, DCI of the MPEG-4 standard) included in the decoding information received from the first terminal 100 and changes the description to the SDP description specified by, for example, IETF RFC. It is converted into control information and output to the second transmitting / receiving unit 130. Then, the second transmission / reception unit 130 transmits call control information to the second terminal 150.

  Here, the second terminal 150 extracts capability information described in the description of the SDP from the call control information received from the second transmission / reception unit 130, and whether or not the second terminal 150 includes capability information that can be received by the own device. If it is determined and contained, it responds to the converter 210 with a response signal. Further, if the capability information obtained from the call control information does not include capability information that can be received by the own device, a negative response is transmitted.

  When the conversion device 210 receives an acknowledgment from the second terminal 150, the control information conversion unit 215 converts the acknowledgment into a format that can be received by the first terminal 100, and sends the acknowledgment to the first terminal. Send. Through the above processing, the capability information is negotiated between the second terminal 150 and the first terminal 100.

  The negotiation of capability information in the direction from the second terminal 150 to the first terminal 100 is also performed in the same manner as the negotiation of capability information in the direction from the first terminal 100 to the second terminal 150 described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in communication between different networks, even if the format of capability information differs between terminals in DCI and SDP, capability information is converted via a conversion device that converts control information. It is possible to negotiate.

  Subsequently, a third embodiment of the present invention in which the converter is provided with a converter (transcoder) will be described with the portions overlapping with the first and second embodiments described above being omitted. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control information conversion apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, a conversion device 300 disposed between a first terminal 301 and a second terminal 302 is shown. Hereinafter, also in this embodiment, the first terminal 301 is connected through a circuit switching network, and the second terminal 302 is described as being connected to an IP network.

  The conversion device 300 includes a control information conversion unit 320, a transcoder 350, first transmission / reception units 120 and 121, and second transmission / reception units 130 and 131. From the first terminal 301, for example, ITU- TH. Decoding information (for example, MPEG-4 standard DCI) is received using the H.245 standard, and call control information (for example, SDP information defined by IETF RFC) is received from the second terminal 302.

  The transcoder (converter) 350 includes an image transcoder and an audio transcoder.

  In the above configuration, the control information conversion unit 320 extracts the first capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the first terminal 301 from the decoding information received from the first terminal 301, and from the second terminal 302 Second capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the second terminal is extracted from the received call control information.

  Subsequently, the control information conversion unit 320 determines whether or not the first capability information and the second capability information match, and activates the transcoder (converter) 350 if they do not match. In the transcoder (converter) 350, processing is performed by the image transcoder and the audio transcoder in accordance with the mismatch status of the capability information.

  Here, as an example, a case where the first capability information and the second capability information do not match and the image transcoder is activated will be described. A transcoder (converter) 350 converts a stream so that a video stream compressed and encoded by one terminal can be decoded by the other terminal in the image transcoder, and outputs the converted stream. For example, in the second terminal 302, H.264 is used. Assume that the H.263 video codec is installed in the first terminal 301 and the MPEG-4 video codec. The image transcoder receives the H.264 received from the second terminal 302 via the second transmission / reception unit 131. The 263 stream is transcoded to an MPEG-4 stream, and then output to the first terminal 301 through the first transmission / reception unit 121.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the capability information received from the first terminal and the second terminal does not match, the converter (at least one of the image transcoder and the audio transcoder) is activated. Therefore, even if the capability such as codec is different between terminals, it is possible to perform image communication and voice communication with a partner terminal.

  Subsequently, a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which a converter (transcoder) is provided in the conversion device will be described by omitting portions overlapping with the first to third embodiments described above. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control information conversion apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a conversion device 400 disposed between the first terminal 301 and the second terminal 302 is shown. Hereinafter, also in this embodiment, the first terminal 301 is connected through a circuit switching network, and the second terminal 302 is described as being connected to an IP network.

  The conversion apparatus 400 includes a control information conversion unit 420, a transcoder 450, a capability information conversion unit 460, first transmission / reception units 120 and 121, and second transmission / reception units 130 and 131, and a first terminal. 301, for example, ITU-TH. Decoding information (for example, MPEG-4 standard DCI) is received using the H.245 standard, and call control information (for example, SDP information defined by IETF RFC) is received from the second terminal 302.

  In the above configuration, the control information conversion unit 420 extracts the first capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the first terminal 301 from the decoding information received from the first terminal 301, and from the second terminal 302 Second capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the second terminal is extracted from the received call control information.

  Subsequently, the control information conversion unit 420 determines whether or not the first capability information and the second capability information match, and if they do not match, further determines whether or not the screen sizes match, The following processing is performed accordingly.

  First, the screen size of either the direction from the first terminal 301 to the second terminal 302 or the direction from the second terminal 302 to the first terminal 301 does not match, but the other direction matches. In this case, the transcoder 450 (in this case, the image transcoder) is activated only for the directions that do not match, and the image stream is converted. On the other hand, in the direction in which the screen sizes match, the capability information conversion unit 460 converts the DCI required part of the decoding information or control information (for example, the level information part) or the DCI required part in the image stream. Output above.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if the capability information received from the first terminal and the second terminal does not match, if the screen size matches in any one direction, In this case, instead of the operation of the converter, a part of the decoded information or control information is converted or a part of the decoded information in the image stream is converted. Compared with the third embodiment, the amount of calculation can be reduced.

  Subsequently, a fifth embodiment of the present invention in which a converter (transcoder) is provided in the conversion device will be described by omitting portions overlapping with the first to fourth embodiments described above. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control information conversion apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a conversion device 500 disposed between a first terminal 301 and a second terminal 302 is shown. Hereinafter, also in this embodiment, the first terminal 301 is connected through a circuit switching network, and the second terminal 302 is described as being connected to an IP network.

  The conversion apparatus 500 includes a control information conversion unit 520, a capability information conversion unit 560, first transmission / reception units 120 and 121, and second transmission / reception units 130 and 131. From the first terminal 301, for example, ITU-TH. Decoding information (for example, MPEG-4 standard DCI) is received using the H.245 standard, and call control information (for example, SDP information defined by IETF RFC) is received from the second terminal 302.

  In the above configuration, the control information conversion unit 520 extracts the first capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the first terminal 301 from the decoding information received from the first terminal 301, and outputs the first capability information from the second terminal 302. Second capability information related to the codec and the like installed in the second terminal is extracted from the received call control information.

  Subsequently, the control information conversion unit 520 determines whether or not the first capability information and the second capability information match, and if they do not match, further determines whether or not the screen sizes match, The following processing is performed accordingly.

  First, when the screen sizes of both the direction from the first terminal 301 to the second terminal 302 and the direction from the second terminal 302 to the first terminal 301 match, the capability information conversion unit 560 in both directions. In FIG. 5, the necessary part of the decoding information or control information (for example, the level information part) or the necessary part of the DCI in the image stream is converted and output.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if the capability information received from the first terminal and the second terminal does not match, if the screen size matches in either direction, Instead of the operation of the converter, the decoding information or part of the control information is converted, or the processing for converting a part of the decoding information in the image stream is performed. Compared to the embodiment, the amount of calculation can be reduced.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, as is clear from the principle, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but terminals belonging to different networks. It goes without saying that various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, which is a configuration that enables communication between the two.

100, 301 First terminal 110, 210, 300, 400, 500 Conversion device 115, 215, 320, 420, 520 Control information conversion unit 120, 121 First transmission / reception unit 130, 131 Second transmission / reception unit 150, 302 Second terminal 350, 450 Transcoder (converter)
460, 560 capability information converter

Claims (2)

A control information or media information conversion device for video / audio communication between first and second terminals connected to different networks,
The ITU-T recommendation H.264 input from the first terminal. Using the capability information included in the decoding information of the terminal according to the H.245 protocol, the decoding information is converted into SIP or SDP call control information for the second terminal and then output to the second terminal Direction conversion processing,
Using the capability information included in the SIP or SDP call control information input from the second terminal, the call control information is sent to the H.264 terminal for the first terminal. A conversion unit capable of performing conversion in the second direction to be output to the first terminal after being converted into decoding information of the terminal according to H.245 protocol ;
A control information or media information conversion device characterized by the above. A method for converting control information or media information for video / audio communication between first and second terminals connected to different networks,
The conversion device installed between the terminals is an ITU-T recommendation H.264 input from the first terminal. Using the capability information included in the decoding information of the terminal according to the H.245 protocol, the decoding information is converted into SIP or SDP call control information for the second terminal and then output to the second terminal Direction change process;
The conversion apparatus uses the capability information included in the SIP or SDP call control information input from the second terminal, to convert the call control information to the H.264 for the first terminal. Converting the decoded information of the terminal according to H.245 protocol to the first terminal and then outputting to the first terminal .
A control information or media information conversion method characterized by the above.

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